March 25, 2015
Hill waiata shaped NZ identity
A Master’s student from Victoria University of Wellington’s Te Koki New Zealand School of Music has shed new light on the composer of Waiata Poi and other popular early songs.
Melissa Cross says while Alfred Hill had a prominent place in the musical life of early twentieth century Pakeha society here and across the Tasman, he also had extensive contact with Maori communities and individuals.
This influenced both his composing style and the way New Zealand audiences viewed themselves.
His popular arrangements of Maori songs, of which Waiata Poi is the best known, were performed and appreciated by both Pakeha and certain iwi.
Ms Cross says these cross-cultural popular songs created a strong sense of indigeneity and nationhood for both Maori and Pakeha.
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